NHL roundups preview

Already facing a tough road in their bid to reach the postseason, the Toronto Maple Leafs absorbed a big blow upon learning that starting goaltender Jonathan Bernier will be out at least three weeks with a sprained MCL in his left knee.

Philadelphia at Boston 1:00 PM ET
The Boston Bruins can wrap up the top seed in the Eastern Conference on Saturday afternoon, when they vie for a regular-season sweep of the visiting Philadelphia Flyers. Although no cause for alarm, the Bruins followed a blistering 15-0-1 stretch by losing their second in a row with a 4-3 overtime setback to Original Six-rival Toronto on Thursday. A Boston win and a Pittsburgh loss in any fashion would secure the top spot for coach Claude Julien's club.
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Colorado at St. Louis 2:00 PM ET
After setting the franchise record for victories, the St. Louis Blues look to wrap up the Central Division title when they host the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday afternoon. St. Louis skated to a 2-1 triumph over Buffalo on Thursday for its 52nd victory, surpassing the total of the 1999-2000 team. That contingent won the Presidents' Trophy, a feat the current club would like to duplicate as its stands even in points with Boston with a game in hand.
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Washington at NY Islanders 5:00 PM ET
Mired in a five-game winless streak (0-3-2), the Washington Capitals are effectively playing themselves out of postseason contention. The Capitals look to end the slide and keep their flickering playoff aspirations alive on Saturday, when they visit the Metropolitan Division-rival New York Islanders. Captain Alex Ovechkin scored his league-leading 49th goal - and first at even strength since Feb. 27 - in Washington's 2-1 setback to New Jersey on Friday.
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Winnipeg at Toronto 7:00 PM ET
Already facing a tough road in their bid to reach the postseason, the Toronto Maple Leafs absorbed a big blow upon learning that starting goaltender Jonathan Bernier will be out at least three weeks with a sprained MCL in his left knee. The injury will force backup James Reimer to carry the load for the final four games of the regular season, starting with Saturday's matchup against the visiting Winnipeg Jets. Bernier was hurt in the third period of Thursday's overtime win over Boston.
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Detroit at Montreal 7:00 PM ET
The Montreal Canadiens are in position to claim the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, but they will face another surging squad when they host the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night. The Canadiens are coming off a stunning comeback, scoring seven unanswered goals in a 7-4 win over Ottawa on Friday night to move two points ahead of Tampa Bay for second place in the Atlantic Division. Montreal has dropped two of three to the Red Wings, but won at Detroit on March 27.
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Dallas at Tampa Bay 7:00 PM ET
The Dallas Stars begin a four-game stretch in five days that will go a long way to determining their postseason fate when they visit the playoff-bound Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. The Stars won three straight before dropping a 4-1 decision at Carolina on Thursday and reside one point behind Phoenix for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference.
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Ottawa at NY Rangers 7:00 PM ET
The New York Rangers can clinch a postseason berth in a variety of ways, although the most direct route would be to post their eighth win in 10 games on Saturday against the visiting Ottawa Senators. "Once we clinch, once we get a check mark by our name - if we get an opportunity to get home ice, we're going to work on that," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault told reporters.
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New Jersey at Carolina 7:00 PM ET
The New Jersey Devils are making a spirited surge toward the postseason, but they could be without some key cogs heading into Saturday's road game versus the Carolina Hurricanes. Veteran Patrik Elias was driven into the stanchion at neutral ice by Washington rookie Tom Wilson in the first period on Friday, while Adam Henrique exited in the second session with an undisclosed injury.
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Pittsburgh at Minnesota 8:00 PM ET
The Minnesota Wild have won only five of their last 15 games (5-5-5), but they remain in control of the top wild-card spot in the Western Conference entering Saturday's matchup against the visiting Pittsburgh Penguins. The Wild have a four-point lead over Phoenix and a five-point edge over Dallas with five games to play - four of which are on home ice. Minnesota needs to reverse its recent fortunes at the Xcel Energy Center, having dropped five of six (1-2-3).
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Los Angeles at Vancouver 10:00 PM ET
A three-game losing streak (0-2-1) has put a damper on the playoff hopes of the Vancouver Canucks, who face three straight games against top Western Conference contenders beginning with Saturday's night's matchup against the visiting Los Angeles Kings. The Canucks trail Phoenix by seven points for the final wild-card slot and have rugged tests looming against Anaheim and Colorado. One plus is the possible return of captain Henrik Sedin following a four-game injury absence.
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Nashville at San Jose 10:30 PM ET
A potent power play has powered the San Jose Sharks to within one point of first place in the Pacific Division. The Sharks look to score with the man advantage for the sixth straight contest when they host the Nashville Predators on Saturday. Joe Pavelski netted his career-high 39th goal and team-leading 15th on the power play as San Jose snapped Los Angeles' eight-game road winning streak with a 2-1 triumph on Thursday.
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